Robert Pellissier; Dairy Family Scion, Civic Leader, Businessman

Robert Pellissier, scion of the pioneer San Gabriel Valley family that founded a dairy in 1888 and owns the California Country Club in Industry, has died. He was 79.

The former manager of the family dairy died Sunday at St. Jude Hospital and Rehabilitation Center in Fullerton, his nephew, Henri Pellissier, said Tuesday.

Robert, who delivered milk as a boy, was the last of four sons of dairy founder Francois Pellissier. The family ranch once included property now occupied by Rio Hondo College and several industrial plants as well as the country club.

In World War II, Robert Pellissier served as a Navy pilot, earning the rank of lieutenant commander and the Distinguished Service Cross.

An active civic leader as well as businessman, Pellissier was a past president of the Whittier Rotary Club and a board member and building committee chairman of the Beverly Hospital in Montebello. He was also a director of Sanwa Bank in Los Angeles.

Pellissier is survived by his wife, Joy; daughter, Michele McFarland of Capistrano Beach, Calif.; son, Edmund Pellissier of Forest Falls, Calif.; stepdaughters Laurie Kennelly and Lisa Morrissey of Whittier; nephews Henri, Francois and Leon Pellissier, all of Whittier; niece Joanne Pellissier of Isleton, Calif., and six grandchildren.

The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 7515 S. Newlin Ave., Whittier, with burial in Resurrection Cemetery in South San Gabriel.

The family has asked that any memorial donations be made to St. Jude Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, 101 E. Valencia Mesa Drive, Fullerton, Calif. 92635.